What is A2P 10DLC?
A2P 10DLC was created by the carriers and the telecom industry and it stands for Application to Person 10 Digit Long Code. It was created to help mitigate spam and ensure deliverability. A2P 10DLC regulates Application to Person texting. If a business is using a software to text their customers AND they are using a local number (a number with an area code such as 317 NOT 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888), they are under the regulation of of A2P 10DLC.
Do I need to worry about A2P 10DLC?
The short answer is NO, you do not. Dental Intelligence provides Engagement users with a toll free number for texting. Toll free numbers are not subject to A2P 10DLC. They are, however, subject to toll free number verification. It takes approximately 5-7 weeks for the phone carrier to process the verification.
If you would like to submit a request to have your office phone number registered with 10DLC for texting purposes, please fill out this form.
IMPORTANT: To complete the A2P 10DLC application, you will need to enter your legal business name, tax ID, and website URL to start the process of registering your number with 10DLC. Learn more about what is required to register your phone number.
If my office phone number is 10DLC registered, do new patients need to opt-in to receive practice text messages?
If your practice phone number has been successfully 10DLC registered, all new patients at your practice will need to agree to the SMS Communication Consent which should be included in your New Patient Paperwork Packet.
All new patients will be opted out of receiving text messages until they opt-in through SMS Communication consent.
Once a patient has consented to receive text messages from your practice, they will automatically be opted in, so no additional action on your end is needed.
Note: Existing patients that were opted in to receive text messages from your practice prior to 10DLC registration will not need to re-opt in now that your number is officially registered. They are considered opted in already and no additional action is needed.
If your practice is using the toll free number provided by Dental Intelligence for texting, you are not subject to A2P 10DLC regulations and patients do not need to complete the SMS Communication Consent in order to be opted in, although it is always a good idea to have your patients consent to receiving messages should you choose to add it to your New Patient Paperwork Packet.
Can patients that previously consented to receive text messages from my office phone number opt-out?
Patients that previously consented to receive text messages from your practice may choose to opt-out at any time by replying to your text message with "STOP".
However, you can also manually opt patients out of receiving practice texts/emails directly from the Engagement patient card.
In Engagement, click on a patient name to open their patient card
Click on the Settings gear within the card
Click on the Communication preferences section
Select each checkbox to opt the patient out of the desired communication method:
Text messages opt-out (includes appointment reminders, automated, and manual texts)
Email messages opt-out (includes appointment reminders, automated, and manual emails)
Review requests opt-out (includes automated and manual messages)